Seasonal Flurry Hits Party Circuit

What makes the holidays so special is the kindly rubbing of elbows with friends. In the rush-rush, the conversation doesn’t always have time to develop, but just a hug or a glance warms the heart, and one yummy chicken salad tea sandwich gobbled with a cookie over a cup of hot tea is sustenance for hours.

Of course, few starve on the party circuit.

Les Amies took over the Bistro Garden in Beverly Hills for a friendly cocktail buffet to benefit Children’s Institute International. They not only ate and chatted but also tripped the light fantastic.

The Luminaires Juniors celebrated their Christmas luncheon at Chasen’s with laughter plus deep-fried veggies topped off with make-your-own sundaes. Really piling it on were svelte Claire Eichler, president Carolyn Cleator, Diane Avery, Trina Shattuck, Monica Ruppert, Laurie Hartigan, Liz Bishop, Eileen Callahan, Debbie Brown, Judy Hewson, Emily Gardiner, Deborah Barry, Callie Irvin, Laurie Hartigan, Lisa Youngblood and Tory Howe. All left with little gold angels to tie on their Christmas trees.

Lisa Bell left that luncheon, too, headed for home to pick up her young daughter Caroline, then for the Valley Hunt Club in Pasadena for the Christmas tea hosted by Carlotta Keely and daughter Ann, Nancy McCullough and children Joe, Tom and Alice, and Julie Russell and daughter Alexandra.

That’s the Children’s Chain party for Childrens Hospital where frothily dressed little girls and little boys in blue blazers and perky bow ties grab voraciously at the delicate tea cookies and listen enraptured to the Citrus Collge Choir. It’s over and done in an hour and a half.

CHRISTMAS REMEMBRANCES: The lovely holiday sit-down dinner party at Frani and Dan Ridder’s home in Long Beach on a very rainy night . . . Alice Avery’s Christmas soiree at the Los Angeles Country Club . . . Liz and Gordon Anderson’s party aboard the Laura, which lined up in the Parade of Boats at Newport Beach . . . Bonnie and Charles Black’s cocktail party, and Phoebe and Joe Vaccaro’s holiday gathering . . . .

Priscilla and Curt Tamkin’s Christmas cheer . . . Patty Weber’s tea to show off her new grandbaby, Lucy Maybank, 2 months . . . Marty Coffey and Janet Stanford’s luncheon at the California Club . . . Liz and Thad Up de Graff’s intimate six-course dinner party . . . Laurie and David Turner’s first Christmas season party as newlyweds . . . Beverly and Larry Thrall’s cozy cocktail buffet.

HOLIDAY TRAVEL: Not a few Angelenos were in Washington for the Kennedy Center honors, a dinner hosted by Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger and the Bushs’ cocktail party at the White House.

Some, like Patricia Kennedy, also attended the sold-out opening of the Joffrey Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” at the Kennedy Center. Among Angelenos in the capital: Gordon and Judi Davidson, Martin Manulis, Eunice and Hal David, Fred and Lee Rappaport and Felisa Vanoff.

COCKTAILS: Eileen Read and Boyd Smith, co-chairs of the Huntington Library Society of Junior Fellows Arabella Ball, launched their committees with a party at Charles and Eileen Read’s Pasadena home. (The ball is scheduled June 5.)

Nelson Holdo of Asanti Fine Jewelers passed out leather jewel boxes to some of the guests, and the hosts announced they intend to raise $90,000 for the Huntington’s education program. Investment adviser Roger Engemann, a Huntington Overseer, will be a major ball sponsor, according to Gordon Pashgian.

HOLIDAY RUSH: The setting was old Russia, and guests arrived by horse-drawn sleigh for the Juniors of the Social Service Auxiliary “Czar’s Winter Ball” (the annual Candlelight Ball) at the Beverly Wilshire. Chairwoman Carole Paquette expects to raise more than $150,000 . . . .

Escada boutique manager Jeanne Roderick honored Colleagues with Dickensian carolers and luncheon. Included: Mary Marshall, Bobbie Foreman, Marjory Miller, Erlenne Sprague, Anna Murdock, Jean Trousdale, Onnalee Doheny, Harriet Deutsch, Betsy Bloomingdale and Betty Adams . . . .

Center Theatre Group Volunteers and co-presidents Eleanor Frank and Donna Venick hosted celebrity guests from “Six Degrees of Separation” at their luncheon at the Four Seasons Hotel and entertained them with the Harvard-Westlake Chamber Singers . . . .

President Dee Ann Wood and Suzanne Dillard were among those hosting friends for Delta Delta Delta’s Sleighbell Luncheon benefiting hematology-oncology research at Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles. Dr. Denman Hammond, associate dean of the USC School of Medicine, was honorary patron . . . .

The Junior League of Angeles took over the Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey, for a holiday gift boutique and a tea for members . . . .

Radio host David Viscott, author of “Emotional Freedom,” dispensed psychological food for thought at the Diabetes Unit Cedars-Sinai Medical Center luncheon at the Century Tower.

DEBUTANTES: National Charity League, San Marino area chapter, presented its debutantes at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Tuesday evening. They are Brooke Anderson, Tami Anderson, Julie Angeloff, Katharine Boultinghouse, Elizabeth Forsyth, Laurie Fortier, Lisa Giuntini, Alison Holt, Erica Hoshek, Tiffany Lind, Katherine McKinley, Jennifer McNeish, Suzanne Minoux, Jennifer Popovich, Mia Rondinella, Jennifer Rubardt, Rebecca Van Wagenen, Christina Wood, Stacy Yacullo and Gabriela Yariv.

GLITTER: The Windsor Square-Hancock Park Historical Society judges gave the verdict and most-spectacular/beautiful home award this holiday to Jeremy and Conrad Thomas on South Las Palmas. More winners: Linda and Ron Marks, Yong Ki Kang, Robert W. Grounds (Larchmont antique dealer) and Raul R. Rodriguez. Best decorated block went to the 600 South Lorraine Boulevard neighbors.